World War II Honoree

Gwynne Edwin Felton, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ATTENDED OKLAHOMA MILITARY ACADEMY IN CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA UNTIL ENTERING MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943 AT AGE 17, AFTER HIS JUNIOR YEAR. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS FORCES ABOARD LANDING SHIP TANKS (LST). TOOK PART IN AN ANGLO-AMERICAN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING EXERCISE OFF SLAPTON SANDS, ENGLAND IN PREPARATION FOR THE D-DAY INVASION. THE EXERCISE, CODE NAMED 'TIGER,' WENT HORRIBLY WRONG DUE TO ENEMY ACTION AND RESULTED IN HEAVY ALLIED CASUALTIES. ON APRIL 29, 1944, DURING THE EXERCISE, A FLOTILLA OF GERMAN E-BOATS, OPERATING FROM CHERBOURG, FRANCE, ATTACKED THE ALLIED LANDING FORCE. TWO FULLY-LOADED CRAFT WERE SUNK AND A THIRD HEAVILY DAMAGED WITH THE LOSS OF SOME 750 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS AND MANY OTHERS WOUNDED DURING THE ENGAGEMENT. ABOUT FIVE WEEKS LATER, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY MORNING ASSAULT LANDINGS AT NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY). ON A RETURN TRIP TO ENGLAND FOR REINFORCEMENTS, HIS SHIP STRUCK A MINE. HE WAS ASSIGNED IN ENGLAND FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE BEING PERMANENTLY REASSIGNED TO DUTIES IN THE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AREA. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. WHILE IN THE NAVY, COMPLETED THE NECESSARY EXAMS THROUGH THE ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE AND WAS ISSUED HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN 1946. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THREE YEARS SERVICE AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.